The article discusses the abrupt halt of the National Nature Assessment, a vital environmental report initiated under the Biden administration, following an executive order by President Trump.
Trump Administration Blocks Crucial Environmental Report, Experts Seek Publication Elsewhere
Trump Administration Blocks Crucial Environmental Report, Experts Seek Publication Elsewhere
Despite a government freeze, scientists rally to complete the National Nature Assessment report critical to understanding U.S. ecosystems.
Leading experts are now striving to finish and publish the comprehensive study despite the government shutdown, emphasizing the importance of the data collected on America's natural resources.
The National Nature Assessment was in its final phases of preparation, with a submission deadline approaching. This ambitious project involved over 150 scientists dedicated to assessing the current state of America's wildlife, water, and land resources. However, the initiative came to a sudden stop when President Trump issued an executive order terminating the effort, which was originally conceived to inform policy under the Biden administration.
On January 30, Phil Levin, the environmental scientist directing the report, informed his team that their project was canceled but sent another email from his personal account, expressing the urgency of the work: "This work is too important to die." Levin’s call to action reflects a shared belief among key contributors that such vital environmental research must reach the public domain.
Among those advocating for the project's completion is Howard Frumkin, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington, who is leading the chapter on the interplay between nature and human health. He represents the collective voice of experts who are now discussing pathways to finish and distribute this critical assessment independently.
The purpose of the National Nature Assessment is to evaluate the condition of natural resources across the nation, predict forthcoming changes, and understand potential implications for the human population. With a strong consensus among bearers of expertise, the challenge remains to navigate the complexities of completing the assessment outside governmental oversight while striving to ensure its findings benefit society at large.
The National Nature Assessment was in its final phases of preparation, with a submission deadline approaching. This ambitious project involved over 150 scientists dedicated to assessing the current state of America's wildlife, water, and land resources. However, the initiative came to a sudden stop when President Trump issued an executive order terminating the effort, which was originally conceived to inform policy under the Biden administration.
On January 30, Phil Levin, the environmental scientist directing the report, informed his team that their project was canceled but sent another email from his personal account, expressing the urgency of the work: "This work is too important to die." Levin’s call to action reflects a shared belief among key contributors that such vital environmental research must reach the public domain.
Among those advocating for the project's completion is Howard Frumkin, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington, who is leading the chapter on the interplay between nature and human health. He represents the collective voice of experts who are now discussing pathways to finish and distribute this critical assessment independently.
The purpose of the National Nature Assessment is to evaluate the condition of natural resources across the nation, predict forthcoming changes, and understand potential implications for the human population. With a strong consensus among bearers of expertise, the challenge remains to navigate the complexities of completing the assessment outside governmental oversight while striving to ensure its findings benefit society at large.
